In the remote village of Totopara, located near the Bhutanese border in West Bengal, India, resides one of the country’s oldest and most endangered indigenous communities—the Toto people. For centuries, they have spoken their own language, yet it existed solely in oral form, with no written script. Over time, this lack of a written system placed the language at risk of fading into oblivion. Surprisingly, the spark to create a formal script for the Toto language came from a song by Bangladesh’s celebrated singer Runa Laila.
Nearly four decades ago, Runa Laila recorded the song “Tumi Ami Likhi Praner Bornomala” (“You and I Write the Alphabet of Life”), whose simple yet evocative lines profoundly influenced one member of the Toto community. That individual, inspired by the song’s message, eventually spearheaded the creation of a written script for their endangered tongue. Upon learning of this development, Runa Laila expressed heartfelt astonishment and joy at the song’s impact.
The initiative to preserve the Toto language gained momentum when Dhaniram Toto, a member of the community, began developing a unique script for the language. His efforts were later recognised by the Government of India, which awarded him the Padma Shri for his contributions to linguistic and cultural preservation. In interviews, Dhaniram Toto revealed that the idea to create a script first struck him while listening to Runa Laila’s song on the radio. The lyrics prompted a pivotal thought: if other languages can have their own alphabets, why shouldn’t the Toto language?
The resultant script, now known as “Toto-Harf” or “Totviko Allabet”, is complemented by parallel efforts using the Bengali alphabet to document the language’s vocabulary, stories, and educational material. Local initiatives also involve storytelling and teaching the language to younger generations, ensuring its continuity despite modern educational pressures, external cultural influences, and a limited population base.
Toto Language Preservation Initiatives
| Initiative | Description | Lead Contributor |
|---|---|---|
| Toto-Harf / Totviko Allabet | Creation of a unique script for the Toto language | Dhaniram Toto |
| Vocabulary & Story Documentation | Recording words, oral histories, and stories using Bengali script | Local Toto educators and enthusiasts |
| Educational Programmes | Incorporating Toto language in early education | Community leaders and teachers |
After spending over six weeks in the United States with her daughter and grandchildren, Runa Laila returned to Bangladesh on 5 March. Upon being informed about the Toto community’s script development and shown a BBC Bangla report, she reflected: “A song is more than entertainment—it can profoundly influence minds. Each song carries a message. That this song reached an endangered community and inspired them is truly remarkable.”
She reminisced about the song’s creation in the late 1970s, written by poet Shamsur Rahman and composed by Khandkar Nurul Alam, recorded at Bangladesh Betar in Shahbagh, and later broadcast on national television. “To think that a forty-five-year-old song has inspired a community to create a script for their endangered language is extraordinary. Music indeed has the power to shape lives,” Runa Laila added.
Through these efforts, the Toto community continues to safeguard its linguistic and cultural heritage, ensuring that its unique identity endures for future generations.